Baselworld 2014: Spotlight on Ulysse Nardin

The most ‘striking’ of Ulysse Nardin’s introductions at this year’s Baselworld was the Imperial Blue, a flying tourbillon with Grand Sonnerie Westminster Carillon, with a safety system that stops the sounding of the passing hours while the time is being corrected. It has twin barrels, covered by barrel bridge made out of striking blue sapphire crystal. It is a limited edition of 20, several pieces of which were sold before Baselworld ended on April 3.

Ulysse Nardin, known for its research and development of silicium components, introduced a new anchor escapement this year, showcased as a concept in a carrousel caliber. The component, made of silicium, is a flying anchor, with flexible silicon blade springs that eliminate the need for a pallet staff. It was seven years in production, and Ulysse Nardin expects to begin using it later this year.

As part of its ongoing consolidation and endeavor to use in-house movements in all of its watches (the goal is 95% manufacture calibers in its line by 2017), Ulysse Nardin reintroduced its iconic Dual Timer with an in-house caliber this year. The Dual Time Manufacture, which enables the second time zone and date to be adjusted both forward and backward, is now equipped with Caliber UN-334, with a silicon escapement. Ulysse Nardin had developed the module on the previous caliber, an ETA base, used for this watch.

The Perpetual Manufacture, with in-house Caliber UN-32, also allows the date to be adjusted both forward and backward. It also features a second time zone, indicated with a very subtle red GMT hand.

The case is more streamlined than the previous model, as is the case of the Marine Diver, which has been modified in such a way that when the manufacture begins to use the in-house base caliber UN-118 in the model, it will be better accommodated by the new case.